McDonald's outsourcing drive-throughs

Troubleshooter · 03-11-2005, 10:10 AM

Just damn people...

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/orego...8522172300.xml

Happy Meal orders travel 1,300 miles in name of efficiency
A Hermiston McDonald's experiment outsources drive-through window duties to a North Dakota call center
Sunday, January 23, 2005
RICHARD COCKLE

HERMISTON -- Talk about McWeird.

You can still order up a Big Mac and fries at the only drive-through McDonald's in this Eastern Oregon farming town, but you'll have to go by way of North Dakota.

That disembodied voice directing you to the next window is coming to you live from 1,300 miles away in Grand Forks.

hot_pastrami · 03-11-2005, 10:25 AM

Well, at least they're keeping the work (and money) in-country. If it was outsourced to India like so many other jobs, I'd say bad words.

Troubleshooter · 03-11-2005, 10:48 AM

Give it time...

Perry Winkle · 03-11-2005, 10:58 AM

Really, how long until fastfood is done 100% by machines?

You just key in your order and your bag of shit comes out of a little chute.

breakingnews · 03-11-2005, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grant

Really, how long until fastfood is done 100% by machines?

You just key in your order and your bag of shit comes out of a little chute.

It more or less is. Those self-serve machines in Amsterdam are fantastic (conveyor-belt type contraptions that rotate with sliding doors).

I imagine machines do exist that operate like coffee machines - make your choice and the bugger throws your chicken patty sandwich or breakfast burrito in an internal microwave and shakes like a lamb's tail when it's ready for consumption.

hot_pastrami · 03-11-2005, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grant

Really, how long until fastfood is done 100% by machines?

You just key in your order and your bag of shit comes out of a little chute.

True, but I think it'll be awhile before a place like McDonald's is replaced by machines. Building a machine complex enough to produce the largish menu would be expensive, and maintenance would be a bugger. Paying teenagers $5-ish an hour is still pretty economical comparatively.

But there is little doubt it will happen. The distaste of such automation will be bypassed by introducing the McVend in places like themeparks, and it'll have a limited menu. Over time they'll become more complex and more common, until existing restaurants become largely automated.

I'd give about 15-20 years, though.

Trilby · 03-11-2005, 11:57 AM

Maybe some day we'll all just pay for the privilege of preparing our OWN fast food. We already scan and bag our groceries...a mean feat if you've little kids with you. Our "service economy" is really a self-service economy.

Troubleshooter · 03-11-2005, 01:05 PM

*hindi accent* Thank you for calling Dell Tech Support... oh... I am sorry very much... Would you like to upsize that? */hindi accent*

xoxoxoBruce · 03-11-2005, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grant

Really, how long until fastfood is done 100% by machines?

You just key in your order and your bag of shit comes out of a little chute.

Yup, that's what it is.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-11-2005, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

We already scan and bag our groceries...

Not a chance. Oh and I want paper AND plastic.

BigV · 03-11-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

*hindi accent* Thank you for calling Dell Tech Support... oh... I am sorry very much... Would you like to upsize that? */hindi accent*

hindi=cows sacred<>mcdonalds

don't theenk so

McD's even lost a suit when it was found to have falsely represented it's frenchfries as "no animal products" when beef tallow was a part of the golden-ifying mix.

Trilby · 03-12-2005, 06:28 AM

Do they still use beef tallow to fry in? I think they quit that.

Troubleshooter · 03-12-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

hindi=cows sacred<>mcdonalds

don't theenk so

It wasn't something that you had to think about quite so hard. Just go with the visual.

Besides hindi is a language, hindu is a religion.

Uryoces · 03-22-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

hindi=cows sacred<>mcdonalds

don't theenk so

McD's even lost a suit when it was found to have falsely represented it's frenchfries as "no animal products" when beef tallow was a part of the golden-ifying mix.

I have to wonder why the vegetarian/budhist even bothered entering McDonald's. Did they not realize what was being served there [All soy protein jokes aside]?

lookout123 · 03-22-2005, 03:38 PM

well, if you got off on protesting and being offended by stuff, and nothing fell into your path, you could always go out of your way to be offended.

03-11-2005, 10:10 AM	#1
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	McDonald's outsourcing drive-throughs Just damn people... http://www.oregonlive.com/news/orego...8522172300.xml Happy Meal orders travel 1,300 miles in name of efficiency A Hermiston McDonald's experiment outsources drive-through window duties to a North Dakota call center Sunday, January 23, 2005 RICHARD COCKLE HERMISTON -- Talk about McWeird. You can still order up a Big Mac and fries at the only drive-through McDonald's in this Eastern Oregon farming town, but you'll have to go by way of North Dakota. That disembodied voice directing you to the next window is coming to you live from 1,300 miles away in Grand Forks. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

03-11-2005, 10:25 AM	#2
hot_pastrami I am meaty Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,119	Well, at least they're keeping the work (and money) in-country. If it was outsourced to India like so many other jobs, I'd say bad words. __________________ Hot Pastrami!

03-11-2005, 10:48 AM	#3
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Give it time... __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

03-11-2005, 11:57 AM	#7
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Maybe some day we'll all just pay for the privilege of preparing our OWN fast food. We already scan and bag our groceries...a mean feat if you've little kids with you. Our "service economy" is really a self-service economy. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

03-11-2005, 01:05 PM	#8
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	hindi accent Thank you for calling Dell Tech Support... oh... I am sorry very much... Would you like to upsize that? /hindi accent __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

03-11-2005, 10:58 AM	#4
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	Really, how long until fastfood is done 100% by machines? You just key in your order and your bag of shit comes out of a little chute.

03-12-2005, 06:28 AM	#12
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Do they still use beef tallow to fry in? I think they quit that. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

03-22-2005, 03:38 PM	#15
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	well, if you got off on protesting and being offended by stuff, and nothing fell into your path, you could always go out of your way to be offended. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

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